The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-11-10
The IDENTICAL PLACE.
A Fish Story the Truth OF Which No In
telligent Man Will Doubt.

fishing. 1t was near the end of the
trout season. so he went alone to avoid
interruption. Late in the afternoon he
burst into the editors den. witn his
war paint still on, and proudly dangled
tine string of trout before the engious
eyes of the editor and Tompkins, who
was enjoying a smoke with him.
What do You say to these?" he
asked, trying to appear calm.
"They are beauties, and no mistake"
admitted the editor, with the air of one
who makes 4 great concession.
"Where did you catch emp; inquired
Tompkins, assuming IN Indifferent air.
"Same old place-up the BoarGman,
near the shanty. Don't think 1 was
more than two hours taking the lot.
This one weighs a pound and a quarter,
and he was game. tell you"
Did you play him?" asked the
editor.
play him! Well, should say I di 4;
and he played me. We had a regular
rough and tumble of it for spell, but
landed him ut last"
Just then he caught sight of Lawyer
Roberts. and rushed off to show him
the fish.
TOmpkins and the editor looked ct
each other. One thought was in both
minds. Lets go tomorrow" said
TompkinS; and. Lets start early" said
the editor. Don't let's tell any one
else." said both.
The next morning at an unearthly
hour Tompkins stole out of the back
door and hurried over to the editors
house. Under the bedroom window he
gave the signal. but no one seemed TO
be stirring, SO he went around to the
kitchen door. At the same time a
tramp emerged from behind the barn.
The tramp proved to be the editor
himself in his fishing suit. Tompkins
had on his fishing suit. but he was sure
he did not look as disreputable as the
other. However, both had their best
jointed rods and fine brass reels. Also
flies.
I've been waiting for you over an
hour" said the editor Che had con-
tracted 4 habit of exaggeration).
"Have you any worms?"
"A boxful."
'Come on then. or the whole town
will be up and see u.s."
So they went. They had the editors
horse and buggy, and drove brishy out
of town.
Though the morning was lovely in
its dewy freshness; though golden-rOd
waved in the crisp. cool air and asters
nodded their purple heads at them, and
here and there scarlet branch blazed,
heralding the approach of autumn, the
two fishermen took no note of any thing
till they reached the old shanty, where
they tied the horse and then followed
the narrow track down the bluff to the
river.
''I think we had better separate, so rs
not to interfere with each other" sad
the editor. So he fished one way and
Tompkins the other.
About an hour after the editor came
over to where Tompkins was
patiently disengaging his hook from an
Did snag, which he had mistaken for Il |
bite
Hello, what luck?" he asked, draw
ing his arm, wet to the shoulder, out of
the water.
20. I've caught one or two Sinners"
answered the editor in disgusted way.
How many have you?"
About the same," putting a fish
worm on his hook and preparing to |
drop it into another hole.
The editor sat down on a log and |
him meditatively. Presently |
he said: Il declare l should like to
know where the druggist caught those
I'D hate to so back without any
hing" said Tompkins.
Just then along came a barefOOted,
ow-hcaded. freckled youngster, with a
miserable little switch for Il pole. but
he finest string of trout they had set
yes on in many day.
Again the editor and Tompkins had
but single thought"
Hello. Bub," said the editor,
where did You catch those?''
up here apiece" with a backward
notion of his frowzzled head.
"What will you take for them?'
sked Tompkins, voicing the editors
entiments.
Twelve shillin'."
30, come ROW. that's pretty steep"
Same as chap from tow, paid me
an these here are bigger'n
is n"
"What kind of a looking chap?'
"a feller with long nose and one of
lese here baboon fish poles. They
int no account fishing around here
Tompkins and the editor thought so ,
20.
They paid him the "twelve shillin';;"
ley wound up their reels, and "stood :
OF upon the order of their going" but
ent at once.
Not far from the shanty they met i
oberts and the doctor. 4;
Thought we'd have one more chance t
the trout before the times up" said
oberts. ''What luck did you have, '
I'd why do you not stay longer?" c
'.First-rate luck. We've got all the
III we want. so we didnOt care to stay I
niger. Thought we'd leave few for a